Nazarene Commentary 2000©

21^st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures© –
21^st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures© [NCMM]

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THE PROPHET ZECHARIAH

CHAPTER EIGHT:
THE GOD IS WITH YOU PEOPLE

Summary

YHWH promises a return to Jerusalem – a city described as The-City-Of-Truth – filled with the elderly and playful children. At the founding of the Temple God makes promises to the remnant. [Part of this is alluded to at Revelation 21:3] God tells His people what He expects of them. [A phrase is alluded to in Ephesians 4:25.] Crowds of people will return to Jerusalem, and national groups will follow the Jews because they have heard God is with them. [1 Corinthians 14:25]

Zechariah 8:1-5 – God Returns to Jerusalem

ZC8:1 The utterance of Y^eH^oW^aH of [celestial] armies continued, saying: ZC8:2 “This is what Y^eH^oW^aH of [celestial] armies says, I am possessive for Zion with a great possessiveness. 181 Indeed, with great rage I am possessive of her. 182
181 I am possessive for Zion with a great possessiveness: Or, ASV: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy; BAS: I am angry about the fate of Zion; LXX: I have been jealous for Jerusalem and for Sion with great jealousy [ZELON]. [Joel 2:18] Return to Zechariah 1:14.
182 With great rage I am possessive of her: Or, ASV: and I am jealous for her with great wrath; BAS: I am angry about her with great wrath; JPS: with great fury. [Isaiah 63:5; Nahum 1:2]
ZC8:3 Y^eH^oW^aH says, I have come back to Zion, and I will dwell within Jerusalem. 183 The name of Jerusalem will be The-City-of-Truth, 184 and the mountain of Y^eH^oW^aH of [celestial] armies, Holy-Mountain. 185
183 I have come back to Zion, and I will dwell within Jerusalem: Or, BAS: I have come back to Zion, and will make my living-place in Jerusalem; LXX: I will return to Sion, and dwell [KATASKENOSO] in the midst of Jerusalem. Return to Zechariah 1:16. Compare Zechariah 8:8. [Joel 3:17; Malachi 3:7]
184 The name of Jerusalem will be The-City-of-Truth: Or, BAS: The town of good faith; LXX: and Jerusalem shall be called a true city [POLIS ALETHINE]. The Hebrew is ‘EMETRH [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #571]. Compare Isaiah 1:26 and Jeremiah 33:16.
185 Holy-Mountain: Or, LXX: a holy mountain [OROS HAGION]. [Psalm 48:1; Isaiah 11:9; 66:20; Jeremiah 31:23] Note 2 Peter 1:18.
ZC8:4 Y^eH^oW^aH of [celestial] armies says the elderly, men and women, will yet sit in Jerusalem’s main streets. 186 Indeed, every one of them with staff in hand throughout numerous days.
186 Elderly, men and women, will yet sit in Jerusalem’s main streets: Or, BAS: There will again be old men and old women seated in the open spaces of Jerusalem.
ZC8:5 The city streets will be filled with playful young children in the market squares. 187
187 The city streets will be filled with playful young children in the market squares: Or, BAS: the open spaces of the town will be full of boys and girls playing in its open spaces.

Zechariah 8:6-10 – Promises at the Founding of the Temple

ZC8:6 “Y^eH^oW^aH of [celestial] armies says, For though it may seem impossible to the remaining ones of this people, is anything impossible for Me? 188 Y^eH^oW^aH of [celestial] armies demands it!
188 For though it may seem impossible to the remaining ones of this people, is anything impossible for Me: Or, ASV: If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in those days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes; BAS: If this is a wonder to the rest of this people, is it a wonder to me; LXX: If it shall be impossible in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, shall it also be impossible in my sight. There may be an echo in Mark 10:27 and Luke 18:27. [Job 42:2; Jeremiah 32:27]
ZC8:7 Hence Y^eH^oW^aH of [celestial] armies says watch Me as I save My people! 189 From the Orient and from the Occident 190
189 Watch Me as I save My people: Or, ASV: Behold, I will save my people; BAS: I will be the saviour of my people.
190 From the Orient and from the Occident: Or, ASV: from the east country, and from the west country. [Psalm 107:3]
ZC8:8 I will bring them home to dwell within Jerusalem. 191 And they will become My people, and I will become their God 192 [Revelation 21:3], true and just. 193
191 I will bring them home to dwell within Jerusalem: Or, BAS: I will make them come and be living in Jerusalem. [Jeremiah 3:17; Amos 9:14]
192 And they will become My people, and I will become their God: Or, BAS: they will be to me a people and I will be to them a God; LXX: and they shall be to me a people, and I will be to them a God [THEON]. In the LXX Greek THEON is without the article and so “a God” is justified. The whole phrase in the LXX Greek is KAI ESONTAI EMOI EIS LAON KAGO ESOMAI AUTOIS EIS THEON. Revelation 21:3 has it: KAI [and] SKENOSEI [he will dwell/tent] MET [with] AUTON [them] KAI [and] AUTOI [they] LAOI [peoples] AUTOU [of Him] ESONTAI [will be]. See notes on Revelation 21:3. Compare Leviticus 26:12; Jeremiah 30:22; Ezekiel 11:20. The language is used of God’s people the Jews.
193 True and just: Or, ASV: truth and in righteousness; BAS: in good faith and in righteousness; LXX: in truth and in righteousness; TAN: truth and sincerity; NJB: faith and just. Compare Revelation 21:5. [Jeremiah 4:2]
ZC8:9 Y^eH^oW^aH of [celestial] armies says let your hands be strong, 194 all of you hearing these words today from the mouth of the prophets 195 – on the very day when the foundation was laid for the House 196 of Y^eH^oW^aH of [celestial] armies.
194 Let your hands be strong: See 1 Chronicles 22:13, Isaiah 35:4, Haggai 2:4.
195 From the mouth of the prophets: It is not just Zechariah. [Hebrews 1:1]
196 On the very day when the foundation was laid for the House of Y^eH^oW^aH: Or, ASV: prophets that were in the day that the foundation of the house of Jehovah of hosts was laid; BAS: in the days when the base of the house of the Lord of armies has been put in place for the building of the house, that is the Temple; LXX: from the day that the house of the Lord Almighty was founded. The Hebrew has “on the day.” See Ezra 5:1.
ZC8:10 For up to now the laborers have not been paid, nor compensation for the animals. 197 Because of the enemy there has not been a moment of peace for those leaving or to those returning. 198 Indeed, I released all humanity against each other. 199
197 For up to now the laborers have not been paid, nor compensation for the animals: Or, ASV: For before those days there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; BAS: For before those days there was no payment for a man’s work, or for the use of a beast. [Haggai 1:6]
198 Because of the enemy there has not been a moment of peace for those leaving or to those returning: Or, ASV: neither was there any peace to him that went out or came in, because of the adversary; BAS: there was no peace for him who went out or him who came in, because of the attacker; LXX: and there could be no peace by reason of the affliction to him that went out or to him that came in. Compare 2 Chronicles 15:5.
199 Indeed, I released all humanity against each other: Or, ASV: for I set all men every one against his neighbor; BAS: for I had every man turned against his neighbour; LXX: for I would have let loose all men, every one against his neighbour. [Isaiah 19:2; Amos 9:4]

Zechariah 8:11-17 – What God Wants from His People

ZC8:11 “However, I am not today as I was in the past toward the remnant of this people, 200 declares Y^eH^oW^aH of [celestial] armies.
200 I am not today as I was in the past toward the remnant of this people: Or, ASV: now I will not be unto the remnant of this people as in the former days; BAS: now I will not be to the rest of this people as I was in the past. [Psalm 103:9; Isaiah 12:1]
ZC8:12 For there will be prosperity to this offspring. 201 The vineyard will be productive. The land will increase its productivity. The skies will produce their dew. I will make sure the remnant of this people inherits all of this. 202 [Revelation 21:7]
201 For there will be prosperity to this offspring: Or, ASV: the seed [ZERA’] of peace [SHALOWM]; LXX: I will shew peace; TAN: prosper; RHM: security [footnote: prosperity].
202 Inherits all of this: Or, LXX: I will give as an inheritance [KATAKLERONOMESO] all these things to the remnant. Compare Revelation 21:5. [KLERONOMESEI] [Isaiah 61:7]
ZC8:13 O house of Judah and house of Israel, it will surely occur that just as all of you were cursed among the national groups just so I will save you and you will become a blessing. 203 Fear not and let your hands be strong. 204
203 Just as all of you were cursed among the national groups just so I will save you and you will become a blessing: Or, ASV: as ye were a curse among the nations [GOYIM], O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing; bas: as you were a curse among the nations, O children of Judah and children of Israel, so I will give you salvation and you will be a blessing; LXX: as ye were a curse among the nations [ETHNESIN], O house of Juda, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing [EULOGIA]. Compare the Mosaic Curse at Deuteronomy 28:37. [Genesis 22:18; Isaiah 19:24; Jeremiah 42:18]
204 Fear not and let your hands be strong: Or, LXX: be of good courage, and strengthen your hands. [Isaiah 35:4; 41:10] Compare Hebrews 12:12.
ZC8:14 For Y^eH^oW^aH of [celestial] armies says just as when I purposed to bring calamity when your forefathers provoked Me 205 - Y^eH^oW^aH of [celestial] armies speaks – and I did not capitulate 206 –
205 Just as when I purposed to bring calamity when your forefathers provoked Me: Or, BAS: As it was my purpose to do evil to you when your fathers made me angry; LXX: As I took counsel to afflict you when your fathers provoked me. [Jeremiah 31:28; 32:31; Malachi 3:7]
206 And I did not capitulate: Or, ASV: and I repented not; BAS: and my purpose was not changed; LXX: and I repented not. The LXX Greek is METENOESA and means to change one’s mind. [Jeremiah 4:28; 20:16; Ezekiel 24:14]
ZC8:15 so I have again in these days purposed to do good 207 to Jerusalem and the house of Judah. Do not be afraid! 208
207 So I have again in these days purposed to do good: Or, ASV: so again have I thought in these days to do good; BAS: So in these days it is again my purpose to do good; LXX: o have I prepared and taken counsel in these days to do good. [Jeremiah 29:11; 32:42]
208 Do not be afraid: Or, BAS: have no fear; LXX: be ye of good courage. [Isaiah 43:1; Zephaniah 3:16]
ZC8:16 Here is what I want all of you people to do: Speak the truth to every neighbor. 209 [Ephesians 4:25] In your gate courts judge with honesty and peaceful harmony. 210
209 Speak the truth to every neighbor: Or, ASV: speak ye every man the truth with his neighbor; LXX: Let every man say what is true to his neighbour. Though Ephesians 4:25 is not presented as a quote the Greek is exactly the same as the LXX. The following phrase may define “truth”. That is, be honest and fair in your dealings with your fellowship. See notes on Ephesians 4:25. [Leviticus 19:11; Proverbs 12:19; Jeremiah 9:5]
210 In your gate courts judge with honesty and peaceful harmony: Or, ASV: execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates; BAS: execute the judgment of truth; JPS: judge truth and peaceable judgment in your gates; LXX: and let your judging give peace in your towns. Return to Zechariah 7:9. Note the qualities of the Messiah at Isaiah 11:4. [Amos 5:15]
ZC8:17 Let none plot injury [1 Corinthians 13:5] in your hearts against a neighbor. 211 Never chose in favor of a false oath. 212 For I hate anything of the kind, 213 Y^eH^oW^aH declares.”
211 Let none plot injury in your hearts against a neighbor: Or, ASV: let none of you devise evil in your hearts against his neighbor; LXX: Let no one have any evil thought [LOGIZESTHE] in his heart against his neighbour. God has repeated what He said in Zechariah 7:9, emphasizing the importance. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13:5, “[Love] does not record harm.” He uses the same Greek word LOGIZETAI used in the LXX Greek of Zechariah 8:17. Return to Zechariah 7:10. [Proverbs 3:29; Jeremiah 4:14] Compare the Nazarene at Matthew 15:19.
212 Never chose in favor of a false oath: Or, ASV: love no false oath; NJB: do not love perjury; LXX: have no love [AGAPATE] for false oaths [HORCON PSEUDE]. Return to Zechariah 5:4. [Jeremiah 4:2] The next phrase indicates God’s severe displeasure with violations of these principles.
213 For I hate anything of the kind: Or, LXX: or all these things are hated by me. [Proverbs 6:16; 8:13]

Zechariah 8:18-23 – The God Is with You

ZC8:18 The utterance of Y^eH^oW^aH of [celestial] armies continued to occur to me, saying: ZC8:19 “Here is what Y^eH^oW^aH of [celestial] armies says the fast of the fourth month – as well as the fifth, seventh and tenth months – will turn out to be to the house of Judah a time of rejoicing and festivity. However, continue to demonstrate a preference for honest truth and peaceful harmony. ZC8:20 Y^eH^oW^aH of [celestial] armies says many peoples will come and inhabit many towns. ZC8:21 Then the people dwelling in one town will go to them in another town and say, ‘Let us by all means to beseech the Face of Y^eH^oW^aH and to seek Y^eH^oW^aH of [celestial] armies.’ I am going too! ZC8:22 So many peoples and strong national groups will enter into Jerusalem to beseech the Face of Y^eH^oW^aH. ZC8:23 Then, Y^eH^oW^aH of [celestial] armies says, during that time ten persons from all the languages of the national groups grasp, indeed, hold on to every hem of a Jew and say, ‘We want to go with you, for we have heard that The God is with all of you people.’”

Mark Heber Miller